Midsummer Cellars Grenache Rose 2011
05/24/2012
Well, actually it's a Grenache and Viognier rose; primarily Grenache with maybe 15% Viognier blended in. This is made by Rollie Heitz out in Napa with fruit from two small family growers. He made 300 odd cases. I tasted this the other night with two other wine professionals: Joe Appel and Rodney of St and Co. It was the surprise of the night. We agreed that if we were blind tasting we'd peg it as Bandol. Very good Bandol. It's that damn good.
The aroma is pretty strawberry and rhubarb fruit that straddles the line between elegant and powerful. peaking out behind the fruit is a whiff of caramel and gingerbread baked goods; not in a sweet way, in a rich spice kind of way.
On the palate the wine is a beautifully balanced symphony of ripe strawberry, fresh rhubarb, raw Cinnamon, and a hint of the spice of crystallized ginger. The wine has good acidity, but plenty of depths underneath. The finish is quite long and mildly peppery.
I can say with confidence that this is the best rose I've had this year. It's available at the Honey Exchange, the Rosemont on Brighton and the Rosemont on Munjoy Hill for about or just less than $25
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